• Do you love reading business books?
• Do you love talking about the books you've read?
• Do you love to share what you know with others?

Then join us in Seattle, next Tuesday (2/9) at 6pm at the It's-Not-Just-Business Bookclub!

Check out all the details and join us for some fun learning!

"Books can be dangerous.  The best ones should be labeled "This could change your life."  ~Helen Exley

My clients are like that too. That makes me smile. Big. My intention and hope is to get more people to smile and make intention and service a part of what they do everyday. It's not a muscle that many of us are used to moving (or maybe we don't even know how to get started).

Well, these guys have found a way - a very inspiring way. It's called Smove, or rather Smile & Move. It's a movement. It's something we can all learn to do, in 9 simple ways, to create more ways to inspire intentional actionfor us, for our teams, for our families and friends. Check out this video - and SMOVE your way into the new year!

The 9 simple ways to smile & move:

1. Wake-up - engage with care and attention
2. Be thankful - the opportunity to serve is a gift.
3. Be approachable - we're at each other's service.
4. Complain less - being positive is more fun.
5. Smile. Really- it's where pleasantness begins.
6. Start early and go long - get lost in your service to others.
7. Exceed expectations - expect more from yourself.
8. Have a sense of urgency - everyone's time is valuable.
9. Be resourceful and resilient - results are what we're all after.

You can find more information about this inspirational work on their website.

Visionary companies may appear strait-laced to outsiders, but they're not afraid to make bold commitments to Big Hairy Audacious Goals (BHAGs).

Like climbing Mt. Everest, going to the moon, putting a computer on every desk (sound familiar?), a BHAG can sound daunting, risky and maybe even dangerous...

... but the adventure, excitement, and challenge of it grabs people in the gut, gets their juices flowing and creates immense forward momentum. - Dan Zadra

2010 is the year to think big.After the last two years of status quo and major shifts in some paradigms, its time. And I believe it's high time to go BIG.

I'm inspiring my friends, family and clients (and myself!) to dream big, think big and then start taking baby steps, one small intentional action at a time, to make those things happen. I'm coaching people to get them inspired and wired to make things happen.

You can do it too. Your friends, family, clients, co-workers. Some ways to get you started.

1. Get clear about what you want. Crystal clear. Make a list of all that you want. Be specific.
2. Make sure it pertains to you. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. Make sure what you want is something you can effect.
3. Believe you can have it. Trust that it will arrive and know that it might not look like what you think it should.
4. Be grateful for what you already have. Say thank you. Over and over. Smile.
5. Build your community. Share your goal, your inspiration, your requests, your success. The universe does it all the time. What you put out, comes back to you (at least I think so). We help make that happen by sharing with others and that means giving and receiving.

Where do you want to go? What BIG things do you want? Share them!

'Tis the season and all that. And there's never a better time to start than now.

Because you're already here.

What to dive into 2010 with all your ducks in a row? What to jump start your BHAGs and get started now? Join me in January get to going full speed ahead!

So when I was asking myself what I could really do to serve my customers, and when I say customers, I mean the folks I coach who are in leadership positions - I realized we were essentially asking ourselves the same thing this week.

How can we better engage with our customers for more sustainable success?

What arrived in an email was the answer, from Jim Champy, a fellow consultant and best-selling author. He layed out his 9 steps (or keys) to a more customer-centric organization and what it takes to keep people engaged (and that goes for employees too).

1. Relationships reign.  The top companies spend face time with their clients (and leaders with their people). No shortcuts here.
2. Perspective prevails.  Zipcar doesn’t see themselves in the automobile rental business.  They are in the shared ownership business.  This gives them an entirely new frame of reference (and opportunities) than Enterprise, Hertz, Alamo, or Avis.
3. Customers are king.  Unless you are proud of running a top-down, bureaucratic company, you must engage your customers in every aspect of your planning and marketing activity. Because they are already there.
4. Calm empowers.  People will reward you handsomely for grace under pressure. Just look at Colin Powell. Cool, calm and collected.
5. Innovation opens opportunity.  What activities are you hosting to open creative channels and reward better ways of doing business? In these tough  times, we’ll get more out of expansive thinking, instead of constant fire-fighting.
6. Know your values. If you’re confused between delivering high quality and who your customer is, you might choose to spend in the wrong places and invest in the wrong direction.  Don’t let poor decision became urban legend.
7. Everyone plays.  You are no longer in charge of your brand or your marketing plan. Your entire community contributes to it. Just ask United Airlines after the “United Breaks Guitars” video reached all corners of the universe (thank you YouTube).
8. Authenticity is essential.  Your clients and employees define who you are, and what you stand for, in every community. Protecting your client feedback as confidential information will be trumped by vehicles such as Yelp.

What are you doing to engage your customers/employees for more success?

Listening is a good start...

And being open to opportunity is another.

9 out of 10 people say they are more productive around positive people.

So why are there still some managers that insist on ruling by fear? 

"…love is a verb. Love -- the feeling -- is a fruit of love, the verb.

...Reactive people make [love] a feeling...

… Proactive people make love a verb. Love is something you do: sacrifices you make, the giving of self, like a mother bringing a newborn in to the world...

...Love is a value that is actualized through loving actions. " (7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey, pg. 80).

This was a business book. A book I was reading to help my executive coaching clients become more effective. What was he doing talking about 'L-O-V-E'. Was I one of those people that was being 'reactive'? (At that moment, yes).

So much of our language these days is reactive. And it's becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. I hear my clients, my friends, family and associates using language that is reactive and then producing evidence to support the belief. There is an increased feeling of being a victim and out of control, not in charge of their life or their destiny. It's no surprise the blame falls to outside themselves (other people, circumstances, even astrology) for a situation of their own making.

But how do we change that?

Start noticing where and how often you're doing it. Some phrases you might hear yourself (or someone else) make that are Reactive:

• "There's nothing I can do about it."
• "She makes me so mad."
• "He won't allow that."
• "I can't."
• "If only."
• "That's just the way things are."

You know what? Those statements absolve the person saying them of any responsibility. Yet, aren't we responsible? We don't live in the paradigm of determinism (all circumstances are out of our control). We determine what happens.

Here are some ways to make the language Proactive:

• "Let's look at the alternatives." (What can I do to shift things?)
• "I control my own feelings." (She knows how to push my buttons, but it's my choice to get mad.)
• "I can create an effective presentation." (I can make a different choice, consider alternatives.)
• "I choose." (Because we always have a choice.)
• "I will." (I choose to.)
• "I can choose a different approach." (Because there's always another way.)

Over the last few years I have become a MASTER at proactive statements and positive thinking. Many of my friends and clients comment on it ("Your positivity is infectious!", "You always come up with the silver lining", "Are you always so positive?"). After working in a high-stress, high tech company, I had to start making different choices if I wanted to be able to survive, or even thrive. One of those choices, was to remind myself, I always had a choice.

My biggest choice was to do something I loved, in a way I loved doing it. I stopped being reactive and started being a whole lot more proactive.

I went and make love a verb.

What can you do to be proactive? What do you already do that is?

Join me for a Small Group, Proactive, tele-coaching program. 4 weeks. Better habits. Better results. Breakthroughs. Starts Monday the 16th. 2 Spots left.

Looking back, looking forward, thinking big. By Sylvia Taylor

Intention is the compass, goals are the map. We need both. Goals help keep us focused and intentions keep us on the right map.

I look back at my 30 Day Challenge: Fit or Fat by 40, and realize that it was about time and choosing to put time in my calendar to be physically active for at least 30 minutes, everyday, 7 days a week. That's a lot to ask, and a challenge for me. I had to keep it a priority, as big a priority as a client meeting. And yet, it was just for me, so I could make the choice to cancel it, since no one would know but me. However, I also made the choice, the commitment, that this was something important to me and I had to give it the time (to put my money where my mouth was).

See how that works? I made the choice to give it time. It's important, so I supported myself to make it happen, by putting it in my calendar and following through.

You know the funny thing? My biggest learning came from intention: I had intended to blog about the experience. I blogged twice.  And that intention, without a structure or support, completely fell through. I ran out of time and it kept getting put on the back burner. But what a gift! Now I know it's something I need to schedule and to create a block of time to get it done.

So, what intention have you had for a while and not done anything about? What intention or goal have you had that didn't get the right structure or support to help make it happen? Start over. Try again.

You can also join me for a 4 week Tele-class (starts next Monday, only 2 spots left) that can help you make big breakthroughs with this kind of stuff. You'll learn a lot about intention, setting inspired goals, creating structure and support to get it all (and more) done. In only 4 weeks. And you'll be able to keep the learning going long after the 4 weeks is over.

The year isn't over yet. Here's to getting more done and following through on our intentions.

The size of success is limited only by the size of your thinking. Thinking big begins with believing big.

~David Schwartz

The 'run-down' (pun intended):

Day 1 - Running with faster-than-me-friend. She was impressed! Yay! I kept up the running for nearly 5 minutes (yes, that's minutes, not miles...). Then with lots of encouragement I went for another go of 5, got to about 3 and by the end of the 2.4 miles was walking. Not so bad. Good weather helped.

Lesson learned: Start out slow, go your own pace and you'll finish the race (or whatever you set out to do).

Challenge: Didn't drink enough water. Got a massive headache that lasted all day. Maybe I should add this to lessons learned? I wasn't nearly aware enough of my thirst level. My mouth might not have been 'thirsty', but my muscles were. More water through-out the day next time!

Day 2 - Running with just myself. Miscommunication with my running buddy, which was a blessing in disguise! I went anyway, shorter route, 1.97 miles and a heckva lot slower (speed walking!). I was racing the rain (keeping out of it) and trying to make my legs that felt like cement, move. Finished off with stretch and lots of water! Ok, two glasses of water...

Lesson learned: It's early days, but I *can* motivate myself to go do something even if I'm not being obligated into doing it! Yay me! Now to remember this for Day 15...

Challenge: Without a running buddy to distract myself I focused a lot on the pain in my sore muscles. Since I'm in the habit of letting myself off the hook I need to find something to support me on the days I don't have a buddy. Music! I think it's time to get out the iPod!

Day 3 - Yoga Day. I'm grateful that I've had instruction in Yoga before and have some great videos at home. However, I did run into a slight problem being that they are VHS and my TV is in the basement with only a 6 foot clearance. Not an issue if you are sitting down, but a problem if you are doing stretches upward...

Not a big hurdle! I just went to my friend Lesley Hobbs website: www.LesleyHobbsYoga.com and checked out her Yoga for Athletes(or wannabes!). I put on some Shamanic Dream and followed the pictures (some pop-up bigger in case you can't seem them). She tells you how long to hold the pose (how many breathes) and if you need any props. I think this is fine for today, but I might go check out a Yoga class at the YMCA up the road too.

Lesley Hobbs pracitcing a yoga pose. Looks fun!

Lesson learned: Stretching my sore muscles hurt at first, but feels so much better now. I also feel more connected to my intention, which is not to loose weight (though that would be a nice effect), but to stick to moving and being in my body for 30 days. I'm always in my head, it's time to give my body equal billing!

Challenge: I'm having a bit of guilt early on about sweating. I didn't sweat in Yoga and I don't think it's necessary I do, however I would like to make sure that I'm making incremental progress.

Anyone want to weigh-in on how to know that you're doing that with Yoga?

And if you have thoughts on guilt, that would be good too.

What are you all doing? Anyone getting started on a 30 Day Challenge of their own? Share your story here, get support and have fun!

Looking forward to Day 4 (more running) and Day 5 - Dance!

I'm almost at mid-life, or what used to be mid-life (the big 4-0) and really didn't start taking stock until this summer. There's a lot one can do to prepare for it, but what I wanted most was to be in good shape. It's not about loosing weight, it's about feeling really good, not getting out of breath when chasing my friends kids and making sure that I'm fit enough that nothing major breaks when the date of my birth finally arrives (I've heard things break THE DAY OF).

I'm such a procrastinator that I need a goal and a nice big golden carrot. So, out of the blue a few weeks ago I decided that I would host my very own 30 Day Challenge. Of course I'm intending for it to go beyond 30 days, but I liked that number and felt I could hold myself accountable to it.

The other challenge is really knowing that I can talk myself in or OUT of anything. We all can. We're human, that's one of the things that makes us superior to the cute monkeys (ability to reason, and yes, talk ourselves out of stuff). Knowing that, I am setting up a structure and getting myself support. In essence, I'm setting myself up for success.

The Structure:

I've got 30 Days. Day 1 is actually TODAY (Sept 27th 2009). I have given myself enough variety that I won't go nuts. I like variety, so the plan, so far, looks like this:

• 3 Days a week - Run w/friend (Mon, Wed, Sun or Sat)
• 2 Day a week - Dance (at home or a Nia class) or Yoga
• 2 Days a week - Weights and a long walk (Saturday and any day that is dry, aka, not raining)

I need to make sure I don't over-do the running since I'm building up a knee that has an old injury and have put on weight that makes the running, um, a bit more difficult for my body. As many of my close friends know, my motto for years has been:

"The only reason to run is when you have to run away from something".

I also didn't make any activity too time consuming and I am scheduling it like anything else important in my day (like my coaching clients or doctor's appointment). 30 minutes to an hour will make it do able. And the days where I feel down, in pain or just don't feel like, well, that's where dancing comes in. I am giving myself three (3) 10 minute episodes of dancing. Dancing like I don't care that someone is watching (hoping no one will). No program, just free form getting jiggy with it.

But, even at my best, I can still find a way to wiggle out of doing this. Even though it's for my health, my sanity and I'm making it fun. That's where the support comes in.

The Support:

In order for me to really make this happen, I'm getting support. A lot of it. Like anything, we humans like to be connected in our efforts. Really we do. And sometimes that looks like joining a group (like a gym) so we can do the work we need to do in concert with someone else, and feel supported. I am not a gym person. I've joined gyms and never gone. Paid for an entire year and never gone. I don't know what my block is, but I'm not going to let it stop me from getting the healthy body, mind, and eventually spirit, I want!

So my support looks like this:

• A running buddy - a friend that is faster than me, but wants a buddy to keep her going and also really just wants me to get better so I can run with her. In fact, I'm calling on all my friends to join in...
• Keeping track- I'm journaling what I've done, here, on a blog, and on Facebook (I might even Tweet about it). I have a feeling all those things, or at least my friends reading, will keep me accountable and on track.
• Making music - I know that I am motivated by music and it makes me feel good. I dorun longer when I play 'Eye of the Tiger', for example and I dance longer when I play Gaelic Storm. Next agenda item - create iTunes list for all my activities. Stay motivated and maybe even sing along. Maybe.
• The right equipment- Since I knew I wanted to support my body, I needed to get the right shoes and clothes. I'm on a tight budget (like so many people right now) so I did a little research. Ross, Marshals and TJ Maxx all carry the name brands at budget prices (Nike, Adidas, etc) for running shorts, t-shirts. There's no need to buy them at full-price these days. The shoes and inserts for running are important, so I went to a running store and tried on 'Only Worn Once' shoes. Sounds funny, but they guarantee them and since I know they want me to come back to buy another pair, I decided to trust them. I'll let you know how it goes.
• Doctors permission - I wanted support from my Doctor as well. I wanted to start with a clean slate so that I would have no excuses, and I wanted to be able to make smart choices. With the help of my doctor, I found that my schedule and structure really support me. Possibly just me, which is why I recommend you talk to your doctor too before starting any new fitness plan. I'm not a doctor, I don't even play one on TV. So go see yours.

So, that's the skinny, the low-down, the plan. For now. I would love for others to join me in their own 30 Day Challenge.

• What habit do you want shift, begin or end in the next 30 Days?
• What is something you just want to see if you can do for 30 days in a row?
• What structure and support do you need to be successful?

Come on! Join in! Share your story!

Stay Tuned to the blog for updates on progress, resources, tips from experts (I know a few fantastic trainers) and some FUN (music lists, recipes, and readers stories).

My 30 Day Challenge has officially begun! Start yours!

As many of my clients know, I use a lot of experiental tools. Tools that get them out of the left, logical, process-driven brain and into their right, intuition, imagination, visualization brain. My absolute favorite tool that gets immediate results with individuals and groups is called VisualsSpeak.

One image map created by a client working through transition.

Recently, Christine Martell, the create and founder of VisualsSpeak told me about a client of her's and what happened when lay-offs at their company started:

I was talking to one of our long term customers last week who works for that big athletic wear company that doesn't like to be mentioned. They recently went through a big layoff.

I asked him how he made it through. He said, 'You know, you probably won't believe this, but VisualsSpeak saved me. I had a champion, and he was someone I had done a VisualsSpeak session for last year and he remembered it.'

There is never any guarantee that just one tool will save your job, but you never know! By creating meaningful experiences for people, they'll remember the experience long after it's over and that gives you the edge others don't have. VisualsSpeak does just that - creates a connection with you, the other participants and the results they are after.

There is so much more to this tool and with some training (yes, I facilitate training for this tool here in Seattle), you'll have one more dynamic tool in your tool kit to help your clients get results, reach their goals and inspire their dreams than you had before - and that could just save your job. 

A BIG SALE is going on NOW as Christine is preparing to work with a publisher to get this tool into the hands of so many more trainers, facilitators, executive coaches and human resource professionals.

So, this is it. The last chance to buy either version of the VisualsSpeak ImageSet at the old price! Due to the agreement with their new distributor, this is a limited, one time offer.

Buy the VisualsSpeak ImageSet deluxe version at the old price of $345!   

Use Coupon Code:  oldvsis (New Price will be $495)


Buy the VisualsSpeak ImageSet Lite! at the old price of $225!   

Use Coupon Code:   oldlite  (New Price will be $425)
 

This offer expires on September 25, 2009

Using Coupon Codes in the Shopping Cart

1) Select the quantity of ImageSets you want.
2) Apply this to your order.
3) On the next page enter the coupon code.
4) Apply the coupon code to your order.

Good luck, have fun and let them know you heard it from me - one of their biggest fans! And if you really want to see how this tool could save your training job, give me a call.

 The Facilitator Set is a bargin at this price!!